Celebrities are flocking to the adults-only platform, making it even harder for content creators to stand out in an oversaturated market.
Once upon a time, a very smart person invented podcasts. They quickly became a way for amateur reporters and commentators to build an audience while getting more practiced at what they did, and because of that, podcasts slowly changed the landscape of journalism, reporting, and public discourse… and then celebrities happened. Stars who were having trouble booking new acting gigs discovered they could create their own platform using nothing but audacity and a cheap microphone. The quality of podcasts plummeted when every B-list celeb decided it was time to release the contents of their brain into the world—sponsors in tow—and bring their signature ability to turn everything they touch into a commercial wasteland. Podcasts being ruined was rough, but now they’re coming for OnlyFans, sparking fears that the internet’s favorite naughty little corner is also about to become a gentrified dump. OnlyFans is vastly different from the podcasting industry, however, and the adult entertainment world plays by a very different set of rules.
The celebrity invasion of OnlyFans is nothing new. Cardi B, Tyga, Bella Thorne, and Denise Richards were all early adopters of the platform, using it to leverage their star power and fan followings in order to build a business that wasn’t dependent on studio deals or managers making sure they got paid on time. However, sex workers and longtime content creators had some very harsh things to say to celebrities who viewed the platform—one that had given creators a safe space to earn a living—as nothing more than another fame machine designed to keep fans engaged and spending money that would otherwise go toward the people who built it. The backlash was particularly brutal after Bella Thorne made $1 million in one day, changed the tipping rules, and then ghosted the platform entirely. Many celebrities treat OnlyFans like a paywalled Instagram: behind-the-scenes selfies are rampant, but there’s little to no adult content.
The difference between podcasts and OnlyFans is that while podcasting has a low barrier to entry—anyone with a microphone, a recording device, and a loud enough voice can start one with relatively little overhead—OnlyFans requires a bit more than that. Success on OnlyFans requires consistent content, marketing, direct fan interaction, and—frequently—a willingness to create explicit material. Most celebrities aren’t ready to post nudes or put in the labor involved in profiting from parasocial relationships. Top-earning creators on OnlyFans have not had kind things to say about celebrities infiltrating the space (Kayla Jade and Girthmasterr have both taken tough stances against celebrity creators), and it’s gotten to the point where OnlyFans created a filter so users can find authentic creators while avoiding celebrity fluff accounts.
Let’s take a quick look at some numbers. OnlyFans has over 3 million creators and 220 million users. The top 1% of creators make 33% of the money, and that 1% is rarely made up of celebrity accounts. Celebrity pages frequently fizzle out, while consistent creators are able to keep their earnings just that—consistent. Cardi B is one notable exception—she’s still active and uses OnlyFans for behind-the-scenes content and genuine fan interaction. She doesn’t just use it to promote herself or her music.
Pivoting from mainstream entertainment to OnlyFans isn’t like transitioning into voice acting. Being successful on OnlyFans requires strategy, stamina, and more than a little vulnerability. Sex workers and career creators are the backbone of the platform, and they’ve built it despite the stigma and censorship that came along with the work required to turn it into the thriving hub it’s become.
To use a metaphor: when it comes to OnlyFans, celebrities can play tourist, but they rarely become locals. Celebrities can keep trying to gain a foothold on OnlyFans, but fans are fully aware of who is actually showing up to do the work and who is just trying to stay relevant after their glory days. Celebrities aren’t making OnlyFans go the way of the podcast by any means—sex work is much harder than it looks, and creating content that people consistently want to see is harder than chatting into a mic and sending it off to an editor. Hollywood won’t stop trying to muscle in anytime soon, but OnlyFans is safe from the podcast graveyard—for now.
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